Re: Cell REception Questions
0ż0
different technologies...
ATT/CINGULAR are gradually phasing out TDMA service in all markets over the
next few years and in all likelihood your reception will get worse with your
present phone..
you can migrate to GSM service and keep your same phone number... go into a
store or call customer care and tell them you want information on migrating
to GSM
<R...@home.NOT> wrote in message
news:prllq0lfjmjrv29ir...@4ax.com...
>I live in Oakland Calif, in a valley. I have used AT&T for 4 years and
> reception at my house has never been good. Even worse in the basement.
>
> I have figured the problem is basically with antenna locations and the
> fact that I live in a moderately deep valley. Towers are 2-3 miles
> away and are blocked on all sides by hills and buildings. Towers were
> mapped from here.
>
> http://www.berkana.com/tower.php3
>
> I'm using an old Nokia 6160. To overcome the reception in the
> basement, I keep an external antenna - like truckers use.
>
> Then my son came to visit. He uses Cingular and a newer model phone
> (Samsung - flip type). Got great reception, even in the basement.
>
> So, does he have a better plan or a better phone? I can't figure how
> his towers are any different from mine. They are all in the same
> places.
>
> I asked Cingular and got some strange answer about how I am using
> digital (towers) and they are using satellite. I'm don't believe a
> word of it.
>
> A complication is that I don't want to give up my plan. It's dirt
> cheap. So, would a newer phone solve my problem?
>
> Thanks (answers like "company xxx suks" are not informative. Life is
> more complicated than that.)
>
> Roy - Carpe Noctem
Bill Radio
The Berkana web site does not include all wireless towers, only the few
required to be registered by the FCC. The reason his works better is
because there really IS a cell site closer to your home. But watch out, if
you were to sign up with Cingular, you would later end up on AT&T's sites,
and Cingular's will be turned over to T-Mobile!
A great plan on a bad network is not a great plan. Why not try a T-Mobile
(or any other brand) phone during their tryout period. You will be
surprised there are lots more sites around than you think!
Bill Radio
Click for Western U.S. Wireless Reviews at:
http://www.mountainwireless.com
Dr. Rastis Fafoofnik
"Bill Radio" <Wire...@MountainWirelessNOSPAN.com> wrote in message
news:10qtd5p...@corp.supernews.com...
> Roy,
> The Berkana web site does not include all wireless towers, only the few
> required to be registered by the FCC. The reason his works better is
> because there really IS a cell site closer to your home. But watch out,
if
> you were to sign up with Cingular, you would later end up on AT&T's sites,
> and Cingular's will be turned over to T-Mobile!
>
> A great plan on a bad network is not a great plan. Why not try a T-Mobile
> (or any other brand) phone during their tryout period. You will be
> surprised there are lots more sites around than you think!
>
> Bill Radio
Hey Bill.....in California T-Mobile is roaming on Cingular's system.
T-Mobile has NO infrastructure in California.
If he goes with T-Mobile all he is getting is a differant pricing plan on
the same system.
I just ***LOVE IT*** when people in California say shit like....yeah
buddy...my T-Mobile phone blows away your cingular here in Los Angeles....
hahahaha...SAME SYSTEM.
Steve Sobol
> I just ***LOVE IT*** when people in California say shit like....yeah
> buddy...my T-Mobile phone blows away your cingular here in Los Angeles....
> hahahaha...SAME SYSTEM.
At least for now.
--
JustThe.net Internet & New Media Services, http://JustThe.net/
Steven J. Sobol, Geek In Charge / 888.480.4NET (4638) / sjs...@JustThe.net
PGP Key available from your friendly local key server (0xE3AE35ED)
Apple Valley, California Nothing scares me anymore. I have three kids.
David L
TDMA phone. The 6160 is very good. Coupled with an external antenna
reception should be excellent. Stepping up to a yagi directional
antenna should provide better performance.
Sadly TDMA is on the way out. Don't use my ATT prepaid enough to
notice any capacity/coverage problems yet. I use the ATT network
around the Oakland area and the old CellOne/ATT TDMA/Analog network
has been built out and well filled in for some time. I just hope
Cingular doesn't trade off coverage in all the Bay Area's
geographically challenged areas for the bells and whistles on GSM.
The OP's plan is gone with any plan changes. Enjoy it while it
lasts...old prices on an extensive network.
While in the Oakland hills and other eastbay communities, I use
Verizon with good results. Even in some of the remote canyons, analog
is required to get a signal. Surprisingly, some of the best outlying
digital coverage is through SprintPCS. Often I will force my Verizon
phone to Sprint, in order to make digital calls in Oakland/ eastbay
hills. Verizon users can roam on Sprint for free in Northern
California.
I'd suggest trying Verizon, but get a phone model known for better
reception, like the Nokia 3589i or the latest Nokia, forgot the #.
Motv710 is rated good for reception, but has it's other problems.
Maybe Sprint is worth a look? There are a number of local service
Sprint critics...
Since (basic services only) Sprint coverage is already included with
local Verizon coverage, seems like a no brainer. Use of SprintPCS may
require the ability and skill to force PCS roaming on Verizon. Easier
on some phones than others.
The OP can port his number to ANY local cellular carrier. If
Cingular/ATT GSM works at home and everywhere else he needs, that's
what ultimatley counts.
I have found the GSM networks to be severely limited in coverage for
rural or out of the way places, mainly because they never used the old
AMPS analog system. Even with lots of time and money, Cingular (former
PacBell Mobile services) has never show much interest in serving less
populated areas or the state.
Even now, with every carrier's major digital network expansion, there
are vast geographical areas that are still only served by analog
systems.
With the steep terrain around the East Bay hills area, any carrier's
cell coverage can be scetchy. Usually just travelling a short
distance, or getting higher up a hill, will yield some cellular
coverage.
If one never needs the best/most continuous coverage while camping,
hiking or while traveling to more rural areas, then a GSM phone (or
digital only CDMA) might work just fine.
One can carry a backup analog phone for emergency only, credit card
calls, on the A side (ATT/Cingular network not Verizon's B side).
Costs are $2.99 to set up a credit card call and $2/minute airtime.
Let's hope Cingular makes use of ATTWS excellent Bay Area/CA TDMA
network coverage in the GSM changover.
Between the merger and then network conversion to GSM, I'm not sure
how all the pieces will fall. Anyone know if the former ATT
TDMA/analog network coverage (capacity?) will be mantainedby Cingular
when converted to GSM?
What's going to happen to overlapping Cingular/ATTWS coverage areas?
-
David
"0¿0" <n...@all.likely> wrote in message news:<kqFqd.187243$Np3.7...@ursa-nb00s0.nbnet.nb.ca>...